My Lumineers are ugly!

I was so excited to get my new Lumineers. I saved up for months and decided to have a complete smile makeover done on all my front teeth. All the info I found about them made them sound like the perfect choice. Well, once they were applied in the office, I caught a glimpse in the mirror and noticed that the color looked uneven. In fact, they looked gray and ugly. When I asked the dentist about it, he told me they were fine and it was probably just the lighting. But, I feel like as the days go by, they are looking worse. Is it possible the Lumineers I received were defected?

-Kristine in Indiana

Kristine,

It is highly unlikely that the Lumineers that you received were defected. Each set of porcelain veneers is colored to the specifications of each patient. They should blend in naturally with your surrounding teeth because the color should have been matched perfectly.

There is a possibility that the discoloration of your natural teeth underneath the Lumineers is showing through, since they are ultra-thin porcelain veneers. Or it may be the composite materials used in the dental bonding process that adheres them directly to your teeth that you are seeing. Another possibility is that the dentist that placed them may not have sealed them properly enabling food and bacteria to become stuck. Any of these factors may be contributing to the discoloration you are referencing.

Unfortunately, you may have to have them redone. They cannot be removed without breaking. You can express your dissatisfaction to your dentist and see if he will help offset the cost. Hopefully, the dentist will make things right and help cover the costs so you can get them redone. But if he gives you a hard time, it may be in your best interest to see another cosmetic dentist. That is probably not the news you were hoping to hear.

Also, if you are truly feeling like your smile makeover is ugly, another cosmetic dentist may be the best option. Not just any dentist does beautiful cosmetic dentistry. And without having seen your case in person, there is no way to determine if the original dentist is at fault. But not too many excellent cosmetic dentists use Lumineers. They prefer traditional porcelain veneers because they don’t have the lab and trademark restrictions that come along with Lumineers and typically the can be more artistic in creating a beautiful, seamless fit.

Thank you for sharing your story. Hopefully, the dentist will do the right thing and help cover the costs.

This post is sponsored by Lexington cosmetic dentist Hamburg Expressions.